Speaking during a Vietnam Veterans’ Day ceremony at Wodonga’s Junction Place, Ms McGowan said unlike World War I’s Gallipoli campaign, the fallout from the Vietnam War still lingered. “It’s not just us who are suffering,” she said.

“I’m really pleased the Prime Minister (Malcolm Turnbull) and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Julie Bishop) were able to intervene and that the people who’ve gone over there were able to actually go to Long Tan.”

Wodonga-based Vietnam vet Bob “Two-bob” Grigg echoed the sentiment.

“We have to remember that it was an American war in Vietnam,” he told The Border Mail. “(Vietnam) won the war, in their country. They lost 250 of their own, so it’s their sacred ground too.”

The Vietnamese government granted a last-minute reprieve to Australian vets and said groups of 100 could attend the site.

Mr Grigg, who served in Vietnam between 1970-71, said he was sure more than 3000 Australians had travelled “for the right reasons”. 

“It’s a very sacred place for them,” he said. “(Vietnam) has done the right thing to let the veterans go to the cross – but the celebration – I think celebration is the wrong word. It’s a sacred place, because so many people died.”

Padre Ben Hall read out the names of the diggers who failed to return to the Border from Vietnam – 14 in all.

For the vets who did make it back, Ms McGowan mentioned how many had described to her the pain from their treatment when they returned during the political instability of the 1970s.

Organiser John Wild had something tongue-in-cheek for his 30 fellow Vietnam vets to remind them of their service time back at the clubhouse.

Weak Budweiser beer and Vietnamese brew 333 would be served, along with meat and salad rolls –better known as hepatitis rolls – a nickname earned from the dubious food sold at Saigon street stalls.